Egypt's El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant will receive the reactor pressure vessel for its first unit in early November, as the country presses ahead with its flagship nuclear project in cooperation with Russia, Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat said Thursday. A reactor vessel is a critical and protective component of a nuclear power plant, designed to contain the nuclear reactor coolant and the reactor core. Minister Esmat, who is visiting Moscow, discussed the latest developments on the project with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and Atomstroyexport President Andrey Petrov. The high-level meeting was also attended by Egypt's Ambassador to Russia Nazih El-Nagari and officials from both sides overseeing the plant's construction. The talks focused on the status of reactor component manufacturing, upcoming milestones, and ongoing construction works. Minister Esmat emphasised Egypt's commitment to meeting the project's timeline and integrating the plant into the national electricity grid on schedule. "There is daily follow-up from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the progress of El-Dabaa," Minister Esmat said, describing the project as a symbol of the long-standing strategic partnership between Egypt and Russia. He also highlighted Egypt's energy diversification strategy, which includes expanding clean and renewable energy sources to reduce fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions. The El-Dabaa project, Egypt's first nuclear power plant, is seen as a cornerstone of the country's Vision 2030, aiming to boost energy security and support long-term sustainable development. The meeting also reviewed ongoing training and certification programmes for Egyptian personnel, ensuring readiness for plant operations as part of the peaceful nuclear energy programmme. Minister Esmat praised the cooperation between stakeholders and reiterated the importance of completing the project in line with national goals to strengthen the power grid and improve service quality. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
